Combined cotton chopper and cultivator.



Nn. 692,227. Patented Fab. 4,1902.

J. M. BASS, sn.

COMBINED CUTTUNfCHOPPEl- AND CULTIVATOR.

- (Application filed Sept. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet I.

No. 692,227. Patented Feb. 4, |902.

, J. M. BASS, SR.

COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER'ANO CULTIVATOR.

(Application men sape. 11` 1901.) v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E: E. E.

nargzys UNTTED STATES PATENTY OEEICE.

JAMES MILTON BASS, SR., OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

COIVIBINED COTTON CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 692,227, dated February4, 1902. Applicant inea september 11,19o1 seria no. 75h61, uit modem' T0@Zi whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MILTON BAss, Sr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Combined Cotton Chopper and Oultivator,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined cotton choppers and cultivators.

The object of the invention is to present a simply-constructed,thoroughly-efficient, durable, and easily-operable machine of thecharacter specified in which the thinning of the cotton and the coveringover of the crushed plants may be readily effected and in which thesaving of such plants as are to constitute a stand may be accomplishedin a thoroughly practical manner.

A further object is so to mount or support the chopping-Wheel thatitmaybe raised from the ground without Vinterfering with the operation ofthe plows and coverers.

A further object is to present a machine having a supporting-frame and achopping- Wheel and cultivating mechanism of such construction thateither of the pairs of plows maybe raised or lowered to the exclusion ofthe other and in which lateral shifting of the frame may be accomplishedby the tender or operator with his feet, thereby leaving his hands freeto manage the team.

A further object is to provide a novel form of cutting mechanism forcutting tie-vines and stalks arranged in the path of travel of themachine and that would be liable to choke the plows.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a combined cotton chopper andcultivator, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,andin which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, thereis illustrated a form ofthe embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the same int-o practical operation, it being understood thatthe elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing fromthescope of the invention, and in the drawings- Figure 1 is a View in sideelevation of the machine characterizing this invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar View, partly in section, showing the manner of arrangement andconnection of certain parts not clearly seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a viewin top plan. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow thereon. Fig. 5 isa fragmentary detail view in perspective of a portion of thechopping-wheel, showing more particularly the varrangement of thefenders for protecting plants that are to be saved for a stand.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the supporting-frame of themachine, comprising side beams 2, and end beams 3 and 4E. To the frontbeam 3 is secured the usual tongue carrying the single and double treesand breast-yoke, and as these form no part of the present inventiondetailed illustration or description is deemed unnecessary. The rear endbeam 4 has connected with it a tool-box 5, as usual, and supports twostandards 6, connected near their upper ends by a crosspiece 7, and toone of the standards is secured the drivers seat 8,'the same being ofthe ordinary spring-board type, and therefore needs no description. aresecured the axles 9 of the supportingwheels 10, the axles being heldassociated with the side beams in'any preferred manner, as by castings11. (Clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.)

'10 the front beam 3 is secured two eyebolts 12, which are engaged byyokes 13, carried by the outer ends of two beams 14, by which connectionthe said beams are permitted to have lateral and vertical movement forpurposes that will presently appear.` Each of these beams is providedwith a bearing 15, (clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3,) the bearingsbeing open-ended and are engaged by the axle ends of a shaft 16,carrying the chopping-wheel1'7, the object for having the bearingsopen-ended or elongated being to permit of thevchopping-wheel beingraised from the ground when desired without interfering with theoperation of the plow, as will presently appear. The ends of the axle 16are held normally in engagement with the To the side beams IOO bases ofthe bearings by coiled springs 18, one end of each of which is securedto an offset 19, carried by the side beam 2, and the other end to acollar or :ring 20, carried by each axle end, as shown in Fig. 4.Mounted upon the axle ends outside of the rings 2O are the looped ends21 of a yoke 22, the same extending vertically upward and being providedintermediate of the ends of the horizontal portion with an eye 23,through which projects the outer end of a lever 24, fulcrulned on across-bar 25, carried by the upper portion of two standards '26, thelower ends of which are yrigidly secured to the inner portions of theside beams, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. By bearing down upon the rearend of the lever 24 the chopping-wheel lwill be raised against thestress of the springs 18 Without imparting motion to the beams 14, whichlatter constitute the supportingframe for the chopping-wheel, plows, andcoverers. The object for lifting the choppingwheel from the ground is toenable the operator to turn the same to bring the fenders carriedthereby to position to cover the plants he desires to save for a stand,and when thus turned and upon the release of the lever 24 the springs 18will eiect automatic downward projection of the wheel to its normalposition. The chopping wheel comprises a hub 27, spokes 28, of anypreferred construction, and va rim 29, having flat sides and an inclinedor Wedge-shaped inner periphery, the rim in this instance being composedof three sections, as shown in Fig. 2. Between the opposed ends of eachof the sections and in alinement therewith'is arranged a spoke 30,preferably of wood, and carried by these spokes are the fenders 3l, eachconsisting of a pair of pointed or tapered plates of iron, bolted orotherwise secured to the spokes 30 and of a length to stradd-le a plant,and thus prevent the same from being covered up bythe soil thrown up bythe plows.

The beams 14 are connected near their rear ends by a yoke 32, thecrestof which is curved and is engaged by one end of a rod 33, which isrigidly secured thereto, the other end of the rod being secured in thering of an eyebolt 34, that serves to hold the lever 24 in operativeposition with relation to the cross-bar 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.The lower ends of the'members ofthe yoke 32 are bent to form toes 35,that lie parallel with the inner sides of the-beams 14 and are heldassociated therewith by keepers 36, as shown in Fig. 2, by whicharrangement'either of the beams 14 can 'be elevated or depressed to theexclusion of the other, the toes 35 forming fulcrums uponwhichthesaidbeamswillrock. Themeansfor raising and lowering the beams 14comprises two independent levers 37, pivoted u'pon blocks 37,.secured tothe standards 26 and having 'their forward ends connected by rods 3Swith the outer sides of said beams, as 'shown in Fig. 2. Each of 'thestandards 26 bearsa segmental rack-plate 39 to be engaged by a plate 40,carried by each of the levers 37, the levers acting in the ordinarymanner to effect raising and lowering of the beams, as will be readilyunderstood by reference to the drawings, and to keep the plates 40 inlocked engagement with the teeth of the rack-plates 39 coiled springs 41are employed, the terminals of which are connected, respectively, to thelevers and to the standards, as best shown in Fig. 2. The rear ends ofthe levers 37 extend backward and within convenient reach of theoperator, as does also the rear end of the lever 24, the forward end ofthe latter lever being provided with a downturned arln or projection 42to engage with the outer face of the rim of the chopping-wheel, wherebyto clear the same from soil thatv accumulates therein and that wouldtend to prevent proper operation of the wheel. y

Secured to the inner side of each of the beams 14 are two plow-standards42 and 43, the lower ends of the standards 42 terminating approximatelyin line with the axle of the chopping-wheel and those of the standard 43approximatelyin line with the rim of the said wheel. The plow-standards43 are disposed closer to the rim of the chopping-wheel than thestandards 42 in order to bring plows carried thereby nearer to the saidrim, and to effeet this blocks 44 are interposed between theplow-standards 43 and the beams 14 and are held in position thereagainstby the U-bolts 45, that serve to clamp the standards against the beam,similar bolts 46 being employed for clamping standards 42 into position.While this form of fastening device will be found efficient for thepurpose designed, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the same, as other means may be employed for the samepurpose, as will be readily apparent. Carried by the standards 42 arethe front plows 47, which are provided with moldboards next to the tireof the chopping-wheel that operates to pitch the loose soil over saidtire, the fenders 31 serving to prevent the soil thrown over by theseplows from covering the plants that are left for a stand. The standards43 carry smaller plows 48, which are designed to fill up the furrow thatthe chopping-wheel may leave on top of the plants in the row in theevent that the said wheel does not let enough loose soil drop back overthe crushed plants and Weeds to effect the purpose designed.

It will be seen that by the employment of the levers 24 and 37 thechopping-wheel may be lifted independently ot the plow when a particularplant is to be saved and that the chopping-wheel and plow-supportingframe may belifted together,if necessary,when turning the machine aroundat the end of the rows or in doubling trees or stumps. The plows areconnected with the standards by the usual form of break-pin, so thatshould the plows contact-with an obstruction, such as a rock or a stump,these pins will break, and thus save the plow-points from damage.

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In order to clear the soil of vines and stalks that would tend to chokethe plows, and thus prevent their proper operation, two saws or cutters49 are employed, each consisting of a toothed blade disposed inalinement with the points of the plows 47 and having their teeth pitchedtoward the rear of the machine, and a shank 50 pivoted to the inside ofthe beam 14. Connected with each of these saws, near the shank thereof,is a supporting-link 51, the upper end of which is slotted at 52, and isheld in position against the beam 14 by a pin 53 passing through theslot, and by this arrangement t-he saws will be permitted tohave alimited vertical movement and will be held in proper alinement with theplows 47. To hold the saws in engagement with the ground and at the sametime to permit them to yield should an obstruction be met, a coiledspring 54 is associated with each saw, one terminal ef the spring beingconnected therewith adjacent to the shank and the other end to the frontbeam 3, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In the operation of the machinethe saws will operate to cut tie-vines, stalks, or other trash lying inthe path of the plows, thereby assuring proper operation of the machine.

In order to strengthen the beams 14 at the points where the bearings 15are provided, stay-plates 55 are employed, these being secured to theunder side of each of the said beams, as shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the inner side of the beams 14, in 'rear of the plows, aretwo coverers 56, which are designed to push or drag extra soil over thecrushed plants should the plows fail to furnish enough thoroughly tocover them or in the event of the chopping-wheel removing part of thesoil as it frees itself therefrom.

The rear outer portion of each of the beams 14 carries staples 57, whichare designed to constitute fastening means for plow-feet when themachine is used with a cultivator. When thus employed, the moldboardsare to be reversed, so that they will throw `the dirt to each plant-row,the chopping-wheel being removed and a temporary doubletree substitutedtherefor of su'licient length to permit each horse to walk in a separatefurrow while the machine is operatingin the middle of the furrow to beplowed out.

Where the machine is used in light sandy soil, the cleaner 42 of thechopping-wheel will not be necessary; but where the soil is of a stickynature its employment will be required.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a plow-supporting frame,in combination with a chopping-wheel disposed in parallel relation withthe frame and adapted for upward movement independently of the saidframe.

2. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivater, a plow-supporting frame,in combination with a chopping-wheel supported thereby, means forelevating the wheel independently of the frame, and means operatingautomatically to return the wheel to its normal position upon release ofthe elevating means.

3. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, the combination of aplow-supporting frame, a chopping-wheel supported thereby, and yieldingmeans operating normally to hold the wheel in contact with the ground.

4. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a supporting-frame, achopping-wheel carried thereby and adapted for upward movementindependently thereof,and cutting means arranged in front of said wheel.

5. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a supporting-frame, achopping-wheel carried thereby and adapted for movement independentlythereof, in an upward direction, and yielding cutting means arranged infront of the said wheel.

6. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a main frame, asupplemental frame connected therewith for lateral and verticalmovement, a chopping-wheel carried by the latter frame and adapted forupward movement independently thereof, plows and coverers supported inrear of the said wheel, and yielding cutting means arranged in front ofthe wheel and in alinement with the forward plows.

7. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a wheeledsupporting-frame, a twomembered supplemental frame connected therewithfor lateral and vertical movement, means for adjusting the members ofthe latter frame in unison, or independently of each other, achopping-wheel carried by the supplemental frame and adapted forvertical movement independently thereof, plows and coverers supported inrear of the said wheel, and yielding cutting means arranged in front ofthe wheel.

. 8. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a plow-supportingframe, a choppingwheel carried thereby, springs connecting with the axleof the wheel to causo it normally to engage with the ground, and liftingmeans associated with the axle of the wheel to lift the same above theground independently of the supporting-frame.

9. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a chopping-wheel havinga sectional rim and fenders disposed to bridge the gaps between theterminals of the sections.

10. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, a chopping-wheelcarrying fenders and having a sectional rim in combination with awheel-lifting lever carrying meansto keep the rim free from accumulatedsoil.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MILTON BASS, SR.

Witnesses:

G. M. CUNNINGHAM, R. C. BAss.

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